Reading or writing desk for hanging over the shoulders.



No. 643,!64. 'Patented Feb. l3, |900.' H. SGHNELL.

READING 0B WRITING DESK FOR HANGING OVER THE SHOULDEBS.

(Application filed May 10, 1899.)

(No Model.)

Seclz'ozz X-X.

THE "cums PETERS co. PHOTO LITHO., WASHINGTON, o. c u

i no STATES FFIC L? PATENT READING 0R WRITING DESK FOR HANGING OVER THE SHOULDERS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent NO. 643,164, dated February 13, 1900.

Application filed May 10, 1899. Serial No. 716,283. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown thatI, HEINRICH SOHNELL, justiciary, (retired,) a subject of the King of Prussia, Emperor of Germany, and a resident of Cologne, in the Province of Rhineland and Kingdom of Prussia, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reading or Writing Desks for Hanging Over the Shoulders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to book-rests or desks of that class which are designed to be hungfrom the shoulders of a person; and it has for its object, among others, to provide an improved device of this character that can be folded into small compass when notin use, easily applied, and provided with an adjustable portion that can be set at the desired angles or inclination with relation to the eyes of the reader or user.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2-is a plan of the support. Fig. 3 is a reverse plan. Fig. 4 shows the support in its folded condition. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line g y of Fig. 2.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

The slab a, which serves as carrier of the actual desk-1 6., of the reading and writing articles-and which is made of a strong and yet thin and light material, can be diagonally hung onto the upper body in front of and away from the same by tapes, straps, belts, and the like, so that it may rest With its front or lower edge against the breast or the waist in such a position as to be adapted for reading or Writing--that is to say, across the neck or shoulders, as is represented in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The most practicable of these hanging on contrivances is a strap, tape, or belt b, fastened'with both ends to one upper and to one lower edge, respectively, of the desk-slab 0t, so that it forms a closed tie, whereby, having regard to the position of the slab a in respect of the body, the lower tie can be somewhat shorter than the upper.

Both ties can be fastened together at their each other, so as to serve as guiding ties or loops, as shown in Fig. 2 and on a larger scale in Fig. 5, and through which the other strap, lying on the first one, passes, so that both straps move across each other without, however, the one being entirely able at its center to separate from the other.

In applying the device all that is necessary is to grasp both ties and lift them over ones head, and then he has at once the desk before him in right position.

In order to regulate the distance of the desk from the eyes according to the bodily structure and visual power of the person, the straps are adjustable by means of belt or strap buckles d of any construction and at any place along them.

First, as the cord-belt strap is indispensable as a contrivance for hanging on the upper edge of the desk-slab, on account of the intervening space between the upper edge and the body, so, also, does one require some other suitable arrangement for supporting the under ed ge-such, for example, as a hook in each corner of the desk which can be hooked either in buttonholes in the jacket or waistcoat or directly into the waistcoat-pockets, or the arrangement in each corner of small strings or ribbon loops and the like, which can be hung onto higher-seated buttons. Instead of applying such a contrivance as hook and eye or a tape-made loop to each corner of the under edge of the desk-slab a it may be found sufficient to supply but a single one to the center.

In cases where the reader utilizes the desk solely in his room, house, courtyard, or garden this form of the invention, as above described, will fully suffice; but for those who desire to use the contrivance outside their own precincts, as in other peoples houses, in their walks, and on their travels, this dragging about of a comparatively large deskslab must prove cumbersome and that form of the invention as delineated in Figs. 2

to 4 must be given preference to. In this structure the desk-slab d is constructed of several separate pieces or strips 6 f g h, which can be folded together and in such wise that they are longitudinally fastened side by side to each other by hinges for by pieces of band or leather strips 70, acting as hinges, in such a manner that these hinges or hands are arranged alternately on theupper and lower surfaces of the desk-slab and so that the entire slab may be put together in a zigzag form. Fig. 4 shows this arrangement in its foldedup condition, whereas Figs. 2 and 3 exhibit the same in opened-out condition as seen from above and below. If after this the bands or straps d for hanging on are suitably wound or fastened around the rolled-together deskslab, the entire forms a narrow parcel of such size as can be comfortablyinserted in acoatpocket. In order that separate parts of the slab a, which are fastened by hinges or hingeacting strips of band, may have the necessary rigidity or stiffness to remain all in one plane when the apparatus is drawn out and that they do not of their own accord close together, especial fixing contrivances in the form of hooks Z or steel strips mand the like are suitably placed on exactly the opposite side of the slab to the hinges at the point of junction of two neighboring parts, which said hooks or strips are so fastened at one end to one piece of the slab by rivets n or the like as to be able to turn, while their other ends are provided with a pot-hook or a notch or slit which lays itself over a little button provided with a broad flat head which is seated on the neighboring slab-piece. Of course this fixing can be otherwise carried out, as shown in Figs. 2 to at. An additional slab 4,0 19 for resting the lower arm can be supplied ers m, as is also represented in Fig. 4. In order to be able to append these wings p in the desired manner, it is advisable, as the drawings show, to give the lower corners above the outer slab-pieces e and ha beveled edge, so that the place of junction or seam between e or h and 19 runs diagonally. Of course should it be deemed necessarya hanging-on contrivance or tie running upward can be affixed to the outer ends of the arm-rests or wings p. h

The apparatus can be constructed in any shape or size and of any suitable material, as wood, pasteboard, leather, sheet metal, and so On.

WVhat I claim as new is 1. A reading or writing desk consisting of a slab provided with a supporting device adapted to go aroundthe neck of the wearer, and diagonallydisposed extensions hinged to the outer corners of the slab at the end adjacent to the body of the wearer to form supports forthe arms, substantially as andfor the purpose specified.

2. A reading and writing desk consisting of a supporting-slab in foldable sections with folding diagonalextensions hinged to the corners of the slab to form supports for the arms, and a neck-strap, as set forth.

3. A reading and writing desk consisting of a foldable slab with hinged side pieces and hinged extensions extending from the inner ends of the side pieces to form supports for the arms, means for holding the same in its distended position, and aneck-strap, substantiall y as described.

4. A reading and writing desk consisting of a support in hinged sections, diagonal lateral extensions hinged to the slab, means for holding the parts rigid in their extended position, pivoted bars for bridging the joint between the slab and the extensions for supporting .the latter in their extended position, and a neck-strap secured to the slab, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myinvention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HEINRICH SOHNELL.

Witnesses:

W. MARsEILLE, WILLIAM H. MADDEN. 

